Ravichandra Ashwin Climbs to Sixth on List of Active Indian Cricketers With Most Test Tons Following Chepauk Heroics

Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin produced a fine innings to bring up a century for the hosts at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Thursday on the opening day of the first Test against Bangladesh to save India from a sticky situation.

Ashwin made an unbeaten 102 runs in the first innings of the game to take India to a score of 339/6 at stumps on Day 1 of the Test at Chepauk after the hosts made a horrendous start to the game.

The hometown hero’s century was his sixth in Indian whites, and the all-rounder from Chennai climbed to sixth on the list of active Indian cricketers with the most number of tons to their name.

Star batter Virat Kohli tops the list with 29 centuries to his name, and is followed by veteran Cheteshwar Pujara, who has notched up 19 tons.

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma stands third on the list, having crossed the three-digit mark 12 times in Tests, followed by Ajinkya Rahane, who also has 12 tons under his belt.

Wicketkeeper-batsman KL Rahul stands fifth on the list with 8 tons, and Ashwin comes in sixth with six triple-digit scores in the longest format of the game.

Ashwin’s latest ton came in timely fashion as the local lad came up with an exquisite counter-attacking innings to steer India to safety after reeling at 144/6.

The Indian unit faced a shocking start to the game after being put to bat first by the visitors as skipper Rohit was sent back to the pavilion after scoring just six runs as Hasan Mahmud dismissed the captain with a peach of a delivery.

Shubman Gill, who came in to replace the fallen skipper, failed to get off the mark and was sent back by Mahmud for a duck. Kohli was next to go as Mahmud tripled his tally with the scalp of the Indian star batter.

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant steadied the innings with a 62-run stand for the fourth wicket before the latter was dismissed for 39 runs by Mahmud.

Jaiswal fell to Nahid Rana after scoring 56 runs, while KL Rahul fell to Hasan Miraz for 16 runs.

Ravindra Jadeja and Ashwin steadied the nerves with their unbeaten 195-run partnership to take India to safety before the umpire called stumps on the opening day at Chepauk.